Multiple-part travelers' check providing enhanced security and prevention of unauthorized use

Claim 1

A travelers' check system, comprising: a plurality of travelers' checks, each having a predetermined monetary value printed thereon, said plurality of travelers' checks having a series of serial numbers printed on respective ones thereof so as to define a range, said serial numbers in said series being different from each other said travelers' checks each having a first space for a signature, and a second space for a countersignature; a record sheet containing a plurality of validation labels, each of said labels having a different respective serial number printed thereon in correspondence with a respective one of said travelers' checks, each of said validation labels further having a predetermined monetary value printed thereon corresponding to a value of said respective one of said travelers' checks; wherein said travelers' checks are negotiable only when they are combined with the validation label with the same serial number; and an acknowledgement document containing the smallest and the largest of said serial numbers so as to define said range, wherein, in the execution of said travelers' checks system, said acknowledgement document and said validation labels are transmitted separately to a user.

Claim 5

A method of transmitting travelers' checks securely to a customer, said method comprising the following steps: first transmitting to said customer a plurality of travelers' checks each having a different serial number and a predetermined monetary value printed thereon, said plurality of travelers' checks having a series of serial numbers printed on respective ones thereof so as to define a range, said travelers' checks each having a first space for a signature, and a second space for a countersignature; transmitting to said customer, either at the same time or subsequently, an acknowledgement document corresponding to said at least one travelers' check, for signature and return by said customer, said acknowledgement document containing thereon a largest one and a smallest one of the serial numbers within said range; after receipt of said acknowledgement document after signature, transmitting to said customer a plurality of validation labels each having the same serial number and predetermined monetary value in one-to-one correspondence with a respective one of said plurality of travelers' checks.

Claim 6

A method of transmitting travelers' checks securely to a customer, said method comprising the following steps: first transmitting to said customer a plurality of travelers' checks each having a different serial number and a predetermined monetary value printed thereon, said plurality of travelers' checks having a series of serial numbers printed on respective ones thereof so as to define a range, said travelers' checks each having a first space for a signature, and a second space for a countersignature; transmitting to said customer, either at the same time or subsequently, an acknowledgement document corresponding to said at least one travelers' check, for signature and return by said customer, said acknowledgement document containing thereon a largest one and a smallest one of the serial numbers within said range; after receipt of said acknowledgement document after signature, transmitting to said customer a plurality of validation labels each having the same serial number and predetermined monetary value in one-to-one correspondence with a respective one of said plurality of travelers' checks.